Size and shape of solid fuel diffusion flames in very slow speed flows

Abstract

The influence of very low speed forced flows on the size and shape of a diffusion flame adjacent to a solid fuel slab is studied experimentally and theoretically. Velocities in the range of 1.5 to 6.3 cm/s and O2 mole fractions (in the O2/N2 atmosphere) in the range of 0.15 to 0.19 were tested. The flames moved farther from the fuel surface as the flow velocity was reduced and closer to the sample as the O2 concentration was lowered. A corresponding theoretical model was solved using a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes system with a one-step finite-rate chemical reaction and surface radiative loss.